Stop or curb box



'(No Model.)

G. A. WARNER.

` STOP OR CURB BOX.. No. 358,515. Patented Mar. 1, 1887.

llinrrn artnr erica,

GRORGR A. WARNER, OF ons Moines, IOWA.

STOP OR CURB BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,515, dated March 1, 1887.

Application filed October 4, 1886. Serial No. 215,313

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE A. WARNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stop or Curb Boxes, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in stop or curb boxes; and it consists of the pe# culiar combination and novel construction and arrangement of the various parts for service, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved box for water and gas mains, that is located at the curbstone of the street and rests upon the said, main and over the stop-cock that is inserted therein, to permit of the escape of water from the main when the cock is turned on through the box or stand-pipe. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved key, which is lnormally inclosed in the stand-pipe or box, so as to turn off the cock and prevent the escape of water from the main, and vice versa, the rod of the key being held and guided in the pipe or box, so that it is prevented from displacement by means of a collar,which also serves to exclude dirt, &c., from the pipe or box, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

A further object of my invention is to provide an auxiliary or supplemental box or tube, which is held in the ground against vertical or horizontal displacement and fits over the upper extremity of the main stand-pipe or box, the supplemental box or tube beingvextended above the level of the pavement, and thereby permit the main stand-pipe to be inserted in the ground at different depths.

A further object of my invention is to provide the supplemental telescopic box or tube with a removable cap, which is fitted tightly thereon to effectually exclude dirt and other matter therefrom, as well as from the main pipe or box, which is liable to prevent the key from operating by clogging up the pipes.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a stop or curb box embodying my present improvements, Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view, partly in section, of the supplemental pipe or (No model.)

tube and the cap therefor, to show the means for connecting the pipe and cap together.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the iigures, A designates the main, and B the stop-cock therein,which are of the Ordinary or any preferred pattern at p resent in use.

C designates the main stand-pipe or box, which is enlarged at its lower end, as at c, and provided in its lower edges with vertical longitudinal slots, as shown. The enlargement at the lower end of the vertical standpipe or box C is of greater diameter than the diameter of the main portion of the standpipe, as shown, and the said enlargement rests upon the main A, and the slots thereof receive retaining ilanges or lugs on either the main or the stop-cock B therein, so that the lower end ofthe stand-pipe is prevented from becoming accidentally displaced from the main While the earth is being packed around the pipe and in filling the excavation which has been made to reach the main and to plant the stand pipe therein, as will be readily understood.

D designates the key, which is made substantially square in form and provided With a transverse slot, d, in its lower side, into which the squared end of the turningplug of the stop-cock Bis adapted to take in order to operate the said cock by the key. rlhe key works or operates in the chamber ofthe enlargement of the vertical stand-pipe, and its size is such that it cannot pass through the main portion of the stand-pipe, thereby permanently connecting the standpipe and key together, while permitting the key to operate freely in the pipe. The key is `provided with a reduced ear, d, on its upper side, which is adapted to enter the lower extremity of the enlarged portion of the stand-pipe, and to this ear is secured or connected the lower end of the vertical rod D', which extends through the standpipe and beyond the upper extremity thereof, as shown.

E designates a collar or sleeve, which is f1tted loosely in the upper end of the main standpipe, and this collar has a flange, e, at its upper end,which projects at right angles thereto beyond the vertical face of the sleeve, and rests upon the upper end of the standpipe. The

collar is thus prevented from displacement on the stand-pipe by the flange resting thereon, and at its middle the collar has a reduced opening, e', through which the upper end of the operating-rod D passes. The diameter of the opening for thekey-operating rod Dis slightly greater than the diameter of the rod itself, so that the latter can be rotated very freely without hinderance from the collar. The collar serves to effectually prevent any dirt or other matter from accumulating in the main standpipe, and it guides the operatingrod D', so that the latter is in the center of the standpipe and out of contact with the sides thereof at all times, thereby materially facilitating the adjustment of the key to the stop-cock when it is desired to turn onv the latter. When the water from the main escapes through the main stand-pipe, it rises in the latter until it reaches the collar, which is elevated by the pressure of the Water above the upper end of the standpipe, thereby permitting the water to escape from the latter. The collar slides on the keyrod, and is thereby prevented from displacement, and again drops into its proper position on the standpipe when the water ceases to escape through the latter.

F designates the supplemental box or tube, which is fitted snugly over the upper end of the stand-pipe C. The lower end of the supplemental pipe or box F is provided with lateral wingsf,which project or extend from diametrically-opposite points in the periphery of the same. These wings f are planted in the earth, and prevent the supplemental pipe from movement in a horizontal plane, so that .it is held in place when the cap is tted thereon, yas more fully described hereinafter, the Wings serving, in a measure, to also prevent vertical displacement of the supplemental pipe on the main stand-pipe. This supplemental pipe or tube is provided at its upper inner side with an inwardly-projecting rib or flange, g, and this supplemental tube is held in the earth by the wings f thereof, so that the rib or flange thereof is prevented from coming in contact` with the guide-collar e to thereby permit the latter to have the necessary freedom of movement. The main stand pipe can thus be planted at different depths in the ground and the supplemental pipe be Iliade to telescope over the upper end thereof, the upper end, of the supplemental pipe being extended or projected above the surface of the ground or pavement, so that ready access can be had to the key-operating rod D. The upper end of the supplemental pipe is further provided on its inner side with avertical groove, h, and an inclined groove, h', which opens at its upper end into the lower end of the vertical groove, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

I designates a cap,which is provided with a cylindrical stud or projection, i, on its lower or under side, the lower end ofthe stud being provided with a fixed pin, i', which projects laterally therefrom. The stud of the cap is adapted to enter the upper end of the supplemental pipe or tube F, and the pin 'i' thereof enters the vertical groove, and rides therein until the stud has entered the supplemental pipe a sufficient distance to cause the cap to rest or hear upon the upper end of thepipe, after which the cap is rotated slightly to cause the fixed pin i' to enter and ride on the inclined groove h of the pipe, thereby firmly locking the cap to the pipe and permitting of its ready detachment therefrom. An elastic packing, J, is fitted over tlie stud, and bears against the cap to more securely and snugly seat the latter upon the pipe F.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with the main stand pipe, of the supplemental pipe F,fitting over the upper end of the main stand-pipe,and provided at fits lower end with the diametricallyopposite projecting tapering wings f, and at its upper end with the flange g,provided on its face with the L-shaped groove or slot h h,and the cap I,having the depending stud i, provided with the pin i,engaging the slots h. 7i', substantially as set forth.

2. Theherein described and shown improved curb or stop box, comprising the main standpipe C, having the enlarged lower portion, c, the guide-collar E, resting in and closing the upper end of the stand pipe, the key-rod inserted through the guide-collar and the standpipe, the supplemental pipe fitting over the upper end of the stand-pipe and the key-rod,

and having the Wings f at its lower end, and

having the flange g,provided with slots h h at its upper end,and the cap I, having a depending stud, i, provided with a pin, t', engaging the slots h h', substantially `as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. WARNER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE M. DEAETH, LEVI VIGGERs, Jr.

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